Page 22 of Grimoire Omens
“And who will stop me?” A strange hush fell over the market, partially because many of the shoppers and even some vendors appeared to have disappeared. Couldn’t really blame them, given the tension and aura of pending violence hanging in the air.
“We are not without defense, dark one.”
“Speaking of dark, there is no point in maintaining the illusion.” Without twitching a single muscle, his appearance changed, or I should say, his skin hue did, going from a light golden tan to dusky gray. I’d like to say it rendered him hideous. That would have been a lie. Were all shadow elves handsome?
Beatrice kept glancing past him, as if seeking something. Someone…
Gryvak noticed and appeared amused rather than worried. “The hunter won’t be coming anytime soon. The bait I set out will keep him busy while I tend to my business.” His gaze turned to me. “Where is the book?”
“What book?” When stalling for time, play dumb.
“The one with the spell. I know you have it with you.”
“I left it at home when I escaped your demons last night.”
His smile remained as he shook his head and tsked. “You really shouldn’t lie. Your home was searched thoroughly. You have it in your possession. You will fetch it at once.”
“Like fuck I will,” I spat, even as I wondered what thoroughly meant. Had the prince destroyed my belongings seeking the Grimoire?
Gryvak arched a brow. That was all he did, and yet Beatrice suddenly grabbed at her throat. Her eyes widened as she struggled to breathe.
“I wonder how long before she suffocates,” Gryvak murmured in a casual tone as he murdered Beatrice with some kind of Jedi power in front of me.
“Stop it!” I yelled.
“Get the book of spells.”
Did I have a choice?
Not really. Once he’d killed Beatrice, I’d be next. “Fine. You want it, I’ll get it but stop choking Beatrice.”
“Humans. I see you haven’t changed your weak emotional ways.”
Beatrice collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. So much for her assertion they could counter the dark elf. An elf I’d brought here. My fuckup, my responsibility. With Gryvak shadowing, I trudged to the train, trying to think of a way to stop him from getting his hands on the Grimoire—and me. How could I stop this clusterfuck from getting worse?
“What’s your plan, anyhow?” I asked, silence not being my strong suit.
“Other than taking control of your world?” He said it lightly as if it were nothing.
I snorted. “You’d need quite a few demons to do that. You do realize there’s like a few billion humans on Earth.”
“Once they get a taste of what I have in store if they don’t concede, most will bare their throats begging for mercy.”
He might have a point. Hard to be brave when fearful for your life or that of your family. Still, I wouldn’t agree just on principle. “Some will pretend to obey, but there’s many who won’t, and they have guns.”
“And I have magic.”
“Will your magic stop a bullet aimed at your head?”
“I’ve much experience erecting shields to counter projectiles aimed at taking my life.”
Well damn. “Our military has jets armed with missiles.”
“Ah yes, your metal birds in the sky. I’m sure they have a weakness I can exploit. My understanding is electronics don’t fare well when bombarded with electricity, and lightning is so easy to call in your water-rich world.”
Not being a technically inclined person, I couldn’t tell if that would work, then again, it just might. Look at how a bolt of lightning could fry a house’s electrical panel.
The train appeared ahead of us, and I still didn’t have a plan to thwart Gryvak. Pity I had no idea how to use my magic. Nor did I think he’d give me the time to flip through the Grimoire, find a spell, gather the ingredients, and cast it. Although hadn’t Ulseere hinted I could do some basic stuff without implements, like conjure fire?
